The Swamp: Obama projected winner of the Iowa caucuses

Posted January 3, 2008 9:38 PM

by Frank James

WIth more than 75 percent of the Iowa precincts reporting, it's Sen. Barack Obama 35 percent, with Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John Edwards tied at 31 percent. CNN is projecting Obama the winner.

We expected a tight race and that's exactly what we got, for second place.

Obama is actually leading in some western Iowa counties and apparently won Des Moines, which Edwards won in 2004.

Edwards has basically made Iowa his second home since 2004. His inability to take Iowa is fairly devastating. Where he goes from here is hard to see, especially since New Hampshire is expected to be a battle between Obama and Clinton. Edwards was never really seen as a factor in New Hampshire.

For Obama, it is definitely the strong evidence that for a lot of people he's answered the threshold question which was do voters look at him and see a president? Tonight, Iowa Democrats answered yes.

For Clinton, it means that she needs New Hampshire to be her firewall to slow Obama down. The problem is that Obama has been surging according to polls there and Iowa should add even more buoyancy to his efforts.

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Have questions about the results of tonight's Iowa caucuses, what's next in the race for the White House or anything related to Election 2008? E-mail them to us and we'll answer as many as possible during our video chat scheduled for 12:30 pm central time Friday.

Comments

Paulo falls to the floor and yells....Hussein....
hussein...Get your robes out Paulo.

Posted by: bill r. | January 3, 2008 9:46 PM

Barack and Roll!

1 down, 49 to go!

OBAMA 08!!!

PS - suck on it, Nutty Paulo..

Posted by: John E | January 3, 2008 10:11 PM

bill r.,

Yeah, what is Iowa, 97% white? If Paulo the skinhead can't count on Iowans, who can he appeal to? Maybe this guy will sympathize with Paulo the bigot:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1103061allgier1.html

Posted by: dt | January 3, 2008 10:16 PM

I even know republicans who re-registered as Dems to vote Obama. Hillary is polarizing, Obamas a united. Go Obama!

Posted by: Anonymous | January 3, 2008 10:37 PM

Wow, and to think, just a few years ago, if you were asked to name the corrupt, business-as-usual politician from Illinois running for President, most people would've said 'Daley'.

http://www.judicialwatch.org/judicial-watch-announces-list-washington-s-ten-most-wanted-corrupt-politicians-2007

I am awestruck that Obama managed to make the top 10 list of most-corrupt politicians in Washington already. Especially considering that he's barely even visited there since we elected him to the Senate.

Posted by: David Hillman | January 3, 2008 11:21 PM

Davey boy,what's that famous line you wing nuts have been using in regards to fend off criticism of Boy George,"Get over it".

Ditto to you wing nut!!!!

How galling for you to bring up corrupt politicians when you support Boy George and little dick!!!!

That's like the Cub fan who is critical of the Sox for not winning another World Series!!!!

Posted by: Raving Loon | January 3, 2008 11:45 PM

Actually Iowa is about 91% white. Your point is well taken all the same.

I was relieved that Obama won. This shows there are still Democratic voters out there who are too conservative to vote for Hillary or Edwards. [I've always believed Obama was and is the least radical of the bunch.] It also proves people are carefully listening to what the candidates are saying.

Then again, don't feel all warm and fuzzy that a conservative like me can warm up to Obama. I was channel surfing and accidentally landed on the Fochs News Channel while they were interviewing Rush Limbaugh. [Hmm, that’s strange.] Anyway, Limbaugh was thrilled by Obama’s win because it meant that Hillary suffered a significant loss in spite of all her efforts. I don't listen to the radio, and I don’t care too much for Limbaugh from what I know of him; but I must agree with him this time.

Posted by: John W. | January 4, 2008 1:05 AM

Maybe this guy will sympathize with Paulo the bigot:

Thats a riot dt. Maybe that is Paulos' candidate..
after all...he is, under all that ink, white. Plus he has an American sounding name. Thats all Paulo needs to make his choice.

Posted by: bill r. | January 4, 2008 7:41 AM

John W,

Yeah, that 97% figure sounded a bit high. Figures, I got it from Bill Bennett on CNN.

This race is getting very interesting, do you think your guy, Ron Paul, can still do some damage?

Bill r,

It's cold as hell here. I wish you were still further south in the warm zone, I'd be down in a N.Y. minute.

I think it's safe to say the neo-nuts are in panic mode. Rove-like tactics are experiencing the law of diminishing returns, or turning people off entirely.

Posted by: dt | January 4, 2008 5:23 PM